Turners Auctions is expecting the car market to remain flat for the remainder of the year.
The car auction firm made $1.9 million in the six months to the end of June, an increase of 19% compared with the same period last year.
The Japan import car market is down 7% for the period due to tougher new emission rules.
Turners chief executive Graham Roberts says this will recover over time, but in the short-term there will be limited choice in cars.
He says people are holding onto their cars longer and he thinks the market won't begin to recover until next year.
Mr Roberts believes Turners will improve its result on the full year last year because its commercial and damaged vehicle businesses are doing well and its finance company is also expected to do better in the second half.
Mr Roberts expects Turners Auctions to make a full year profit of between $3.8 million and $4.1 million, compared with last year's $3.7 million surplus.
